Unbelievable Crockpot Hacks You Didn’t Know Existed

Are you ready to revolutionize your kitchen routine with a trusty crockpot? Imagine turning sweetened condensed milk into luscious caramel without breaking a sweat. Our article dives into mind-blowing crockpot hacks that will elevate your cooking game from savory meals to playtime fun.

Prepare for some kitchen magic!

Key Takeaways

• You can turn sweetened condensed milk into caramel in a crockpot by cooking it for 8 hours.
• A crockpot can be used to make a Chex mix, keeping it crispy with a paper towel under the lid while cooking.
• Shrimp boils are easy in a slow cooker; just add shrimp 30 minutes before serving so they don’t overcook.
• Slow cookers aren’t just for food; you can also make things like Play-Doh and soap in them.
• Trying new recipes like “seven can soup” or making cornbread can bring more fun to using your crockpot.

Unbelievable Crockpot Hacks You Didn’t Know Existed

Discover the hidden potential of your crockpot with these surprising hacks, from making caramel to cooking a shrimp boil. You’ll be amazed at what you can create with your slow cooker beyond the usual stews and soups.

Crockpot caramel from sweetened condensed milk

Making caramel in a crockpot is easy and safe. Just use sweetened condensed milk for delicious results.

• Place unopened cans of sweetened condensed milk in your slow cooker.
• Fill the crockpot with water until the cans are completely covered.
• Put the lid on your slow cooker. Set it to low heat for 8 hours.
• Carefully take the hot slow cooker’s lid off after cooking. The water will be very hot.
• Let the cans stay in the water to cool down completely. This could take a few hours.
• Open the cooled cans to find soft, rich caramel inside. Use it for desserts or as a tasty spread.

Making Chex mix in the slow cooker

After exploring how to turn sweetened condensed milk into caramel using your crockpot, let’s dive into another tasty treat you can whip up with this handy appliance: Chex mix. It’s a snack that’s not only delicious but also easy to customize and perfect for any occasion.

• Gather your ingredients: onion powder, garlic powder, seasoned salt, butter, and Worcestershire sauce.
• Put your Chex cereal in the slow cooker.
• Melt the butter in a separate bowl.
• Mix the melted butter with Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and seasoned salt.
• Pour this mix over the cereal in the slow cooker. Stir it well so all pieces get coated.
• Cook on low heat for about 3 hours. Every 45 minutes, give it a nice stir to make sure nothing sticks.
• Place a paper towel under the lid. This helps absorb moisture so your Chex mix stays crispy.
• After cooking time is up, spread out the finished snack onto parchment paper. This will cool it down and keep things from getting soggy.
• Feel free to add nuts or pretzels if you like! It’s all about what tastes good to you.
• Once cool, store your Chex mix in an airtight container or Ziploc bag to keep it fresh.

Cooking a shrimp boil in the slow cooker

Cooking a shrimp boil in your slow cooker is both easy and fun. It turns it into a no-fuss meal for any day of the week.

• Start by gathering potatoes, corn on the cob, sausages, and your favorite seasonings.
• Wash and cut the potatoes into chunks so they cook evenly.
• Snap the corn cobs in half to fit them nicely into the crockpot.
• Cut sausages into bite-sized pieces or leave whole if you prefer.
• Layer these ingredients in the slow cooker and sprinkle with seasoning for great flavor.
• Pour in enough water to cover everything but not so much that it overflows when cooking.
• Set your slow cooker on low heat early in the day to slowly cook the base of your boil.
• About 30 minutes before serving, toss in the shrimp so they can cook but not overdo it.
• Make sure you don’t put the shrimp in too early; they should be last!
• Use fresh or frozen shrimp according to what’s available or fits your budget.
• Serve by spreading brown paper on an outdoor table and dumping out all the tasty food.
• Enjoy this summertime favorite right from your slow cooker, with no need for a big pot or stove.

Desserts and non-food items in the slow cooker

For those with a sweet tooth, slow cookers offer the surprising ability to create delectable desserts. From dump cakes to cobblers, cookie bars to cheesecake, this kitchen appliance can handle it all.

In addition to desserts, the slow cooker surprises again by allowing non-food items like homemade soap and potpourri to be made as alternatives for candles or air fresheners.

Consider using the resulting caramel for seasonal treats like caramel apples or caramel fruit dip. The slow cooker is truly a versatile tool in any kitchen arsenal; from savory dinners to sweet delights and even non-edible creations, its potential knows no bounds.

Making Play-Doh in the slow cooker

Making Play-Doh in the slow cooker is easy and fun. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Add 2 cups of flour and half a cup of table salt to the crockpot.
2. Mix in 3 tablespoons of cornstarch and three tablespoons of cream of tartar.
3. Pour in 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and 2 cups of warm water.
4. Cook the mixture on high for one hour, stirring occasionally.

Unique Use of a 4-quart Crockpot

Get creative with your 4-quart crockpot by making Play-Doh, trying the “sooner soup” or “seven can soup,” and attempting to make cornbread in the slow cooker. These unexpected uses will open up a whole new world of possibilities for your crockpot cooking adventures.

Making Play-Doh in the Crockpot

Making Play-Doh in a 4-quart crockpot is a unique and unexpected use of the slow cooker. Here are the steps to make Play-Doh in the crockpot:

1. Gather the ingredients, which include flour, table salt, cornstarch, cream of tartar, vegetable oil, and warm water.
2. Mix all the ingredients together in the crockpot and stir well to form a smooth dough-like consistency.
3. Cook the mixture on high heat for one hour, ensuring to cover the crockpot with its lid while cooking.
4. After an hour, remove the lid and stir the Play-Doh again to ensure even cooking.
5. Allow the Play – Doh to cool on the counter before beginning any creative play.
6. While making Play-Doh in a crockpot is possible, it’s worth noting that using this method took longer than traditional stovetop preparation.
7. Considering that stovetop preparation is quicker, it’s unlikely that using a crockpot for making Play-Doh will be repeated often due to the extended total cooking time of over an hour.

Trying the “sooner soup” or “seven can soup”

The “sooner soup” or “seven can soup” recipe has been a staple for the author for nearly two decades. This easy and delicious crockpot meal only requires a pound of ground beef and a few canned ingredients. Here are the steps to trying this flavorful and convenient soup:

1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Drain excess fat from the beef after browning.
3. Transfer the cooked beef to the slow cooker.
4. Add two cans of mixed vegetables to the slow cooker.
5. Include two cans of beans – any variety of your choice – to the mix.
6. Incorporate two cans of Rotel, which adds a zesty kick to the soup.
7. Pour in one can of Minon soup, adjusting seasoning as desired.

Attempting to make cornbread in the slow cooker

I tried making cornbread in the slow cooker for the first time. The recipe included two packages of Jiffy, two eggs, one 8 oz container of sour cream, and half a cup of milk.

Conclusion

Discover the unbelievable hacks for your crockpot that you never knew about. You can make caramel from sweetened condensed milk without opening the cans. Try making Chex mix and even a whole shrimp boil in your slow cooker.

The possibilities go beyond food, with options like making Play-Doh or homemade soap in the slow cooker, too!

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